The musings and philosophy of a citizen|sailor (hence the Deux) seeking critical thinking, rational thought and creative ideas. Military ponderings and other conundrums. Occassionally correct, sometimes funny and frequently sporadic!*This page is the personal writings of the nomme de plume known as Citizen Deux. It does not reflect the opinions of any firm, organization or group

Day by Day

06 January 2009

There is no science in Scientology...

Jett Travolta dies in the Bahamas under suspicious circumstances.His cremated remains are being returned to the family compound in Ocala, Florida.The loss of a 16 year old boy is a tragedy for any family.A life cut short so early is a loss to all.John Travolta and Kelly Preston are Scientologists – different from the medically averse Christian Scientists.However, the tenets of their beliefs may have had some impact on Jett’s life, and even his death.John’s brother, Joe, is an autism activist.Truthfully, I don’t know whether he is on the fringes with the lunatic Jenny McCarthy or mainstream.That’s for another post.

Scientology is a dangerous, controlling cult.It operates a global network dedicated to controlling its members, suppressing opposition and accumulating wealth.It holds bizarre beliefs and opposes mental health treatments in all its forms.

I now offer a primer for the unmitigated.Below is paraphrased from other sources, most notably Gawker.

Scientology, which questionably calls itself a new "religion", is the brainchild of 1950's science fiction writer, occult enthusiast and former Naval officer (*sigh*) L. Ron Hubbard.The organization, by means of Hubbard's self created psychotherapy technique called "Dianetics", claims to be able to help rid members of any and all mental constraints including but not limited to emotional scarring (from this and "past" lives) due to "engrams" (past negative experiences stored in our unconscious mind), psychological disorders and chemical imbalances (the solution is to convince members that these things don't actually exist) and drug dependence (including legally prescribed psycho pharmaceuticals which counteract the effects of psychological disorders Scientologists believe to be nonexistent). Their "treatment" of substance abuse includes little more than massive, often dangerous doses of vitamins and unhealthy extended sessions in a sauna.

Scientology is most certainly NOT a religion. In fact, one of the only reasons they enjoy "tax exempt status" on religious ground in the United States is because they bullied the IRS into a "deal" through extremely aggressive barratry (which is the offense of persistently instigating groundless lawsuits) against said government agency and its officials, and arranged to drop all 2,500 frivolous lawsuits only when an "agreement" was reached. In addition, Scientology's lawyers hired private investigators to dig up any "dirt" on IRS agents which was then used to blackmail or publicly smear all "vulnerable" agents. It was an all-out WAR that Scientology had waged against the IRS, and was even described as such by Scientology's "CEO", David Miscavige, in his 1993 speech to the International Association of Scientologists.

The official Scientology organization is composed of a number of "levels". One begins as a "preclear" and works their way up. One must purchase virtually every service crucial to advancement directly from the "church" and at staggering prices. "Auditing", for example, is purchased in 12½ hour blocks, costing anywhere from $200-$750 for introductory sessions to between $8,000 and $9,000 for advanced sessions. Basically, Scientology claims to possess exclusive knowledge of the path to religious redemption and then charges obscene amounts of money for every tiny incremental step towards this end. Visit this link to see how $380,000 is a conservative estimate for the total cost of moving all the way up the Scientology hierarchal ladder:

At level OT III (Operating Thetan Level 3), some very strange and fiercely guarded secrets are imparted upon worthy members who have paid enough money to advance to such a level (and no, this isn't a joke): The evil alien ruler Xenu killed millions of aliens (Thetans) from around the universe by kidnapping them, bringing them to earth in golden DC-8 "space-planes", stacking them around volcanoes and blowing them up by dropping "h-bombs" into the volcanoes. Scientologists believe the souls of these aliens (these souls are "Body Thetans") were captured, brainwashed and released; they then attached themselves to our ancestors (and according to Scientology's belief in Thetan immortality, they also attached to us during "past lives") and cause many of our mental and physical ills to this day. Auditing is said to "clear" us of these Body Thetans as well as the "mental implants" they supposedly impose on our minds.

Scientology has taken a very hostile stance towards psychiatry and psychiatric drugs irrespective of the fact that some people require medication to remain adequately functional during everyday life. It doesn't recognize legitimate conditions like autism, epilepsy, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or ANY neurological disorder / chemical imbalance at all, and the "church" has been known to withhold prescription pharmaceuticals from members (often with harmful and deadly results). The "Church" blames psychiatry for the Holocaust, as well as school shootings and even September 11th. It's been suggested that Hubbard's vehement opposition was born of the psychiatric community's rejection of his "tech" as a valid treatment method, but it's also possible that Hubbard chose psychiatry as a scapegoat. Organizations like Scientology are notorious for villainizing a specific out-group because their "stand against the enemy" fosters cohesion within said organization, and psychiatry was an effective rallying point considering many people already distrust and oppose the mental health profession.

L. Ron Hubbard, the man behind the creation of Scientology, was and still is a controversial figure. Biographies and lists of personal accomplishments differ greatly between Scientology and non-Scientology publications as the "church" tends to exaggerate and outright lie about his early life, his education, his travels, his achievements etc, preferring to paint a distorted, flattering picture. Several books and articles present facts which flatly contradict these church-published accounts (links to free online copies of these books and articles are provided below), showing conclusively that he was NOT the brilliant, accomplished figure revered by Scientologists. During his autopsy, the sedative Vistaril™ was present in his body, which several of his assistants would later attest was only one of many psychiatric and pain medications Hubbard ingested over the years. It had also been said by many who knew Hubbard personally that at the end of his life he was "a psychopathic insane person screaming about BT's [Body Thetans]…"

To be blunt, Scientology is a cult. It employs semi-legitimate psychotherapy and self-help methods to keep people loyal and convinced of its merit while it simultaneously sucks them dry financially and attempts to keep them far away from ANYONE, even friends and family, who would dissuade them from remaining in such a harmful situation. It bullies all known critics, opponents, "enemies", etc, often through malicious litigation and character assassination. It's a particularly greedy as well as manipulative and dangerous cult that takes its anti-psychiatry fanaticism to deadly limits.

Watch this very revealing video that will, in about 5 minutes, show you EXACTLY what Scientology is all about: [theunfunnytruth.ytmnd.com]

This is an hour long special report on Jeremy Perkins, the mentally disturbed son of Scientologist parents who refused to put him on the anti-psychotic drugs that would have stabilized him and prevented him from killing his own mother: [www.scientomogy.com]

9 comments:

and leave us not forget that it is a closet refuge for certain gay people who cannot accept who they are. two or three notable actors among them....by saying that homosexuality does not exist and can be cured by higher level treatments.

Ahhh!!!! By the way, check out one of my earlier posts on the Completely Unauthorized Children's Scientology Christmas Pagaent.

To be clear, Scientology is not a religion. If we take the analogy to Scientology to its extreme, no religion stands up to this sort of scrutiny.

There is, I believe, a human need to have faith (despite the sheer irrationality of it). There seems to be some psychological innoculation delivered by relagting some of your hopes and fears to the unknowable. Whether that's the elephant headed Ganesh or the Thetans.

1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs. 2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion. 3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions. 4. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion. 5. the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith. 6. something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice.

Here's a thought (yes, I know, scary that I have thoughts). I have often wondered if the concept of tax exemptions for religious entities has lost it's usefulness. In England, pre-revolution, one of the ways that the government would restrict religion was to tax heavily those not sanctioned by the state. If they strayed too far from the Anglican Church, they would of course be banned all together. I think the US wouldn't and couldn't behave in the same manner, a-al the first amendment. so maybe it's time to treat the church like every other business and tax the crap out of all of them. That would certainly take away the incentive for an organization of the Scientology sort to claim they are a religion.

I have just started my own church. I invite you all to worship and tithe as you see fit. It is the Church of the Almighty Sacred Heart. If you find it won't fit on your check, you can use the abreviation CASH.

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About Me

Conservative in some areas, liberal in others and off the map in a few more.
Citizen soldier, US Navy.
Active in my community and have a superb family!
Educated as an engineer an MBA.
Employed by a BAC (big ass company) providing good, cheap stuff to the world.